National Health Insurance - An Introduction

Abstract

As we rapidly move into a period of transition in South Africa, various options for future systems of health care delivery are being debated. A major influence on the way health care is provided is the way in which it is financed. One financing mechanism which is increasingly coming under the spotlight is National Health Insurance (NHI, also called social health insurance), the possibility of which has been raised by many including the African National Congress', the current government and academics.''4'5'67 Although NHI is one of the major options of health financing available for South Africa, many practitioners are not familiar with the concept. This article attempts to introduce and summarise some of the key issues.